A Russian woman was on Wednesday, deported from Bali in Indonesia for wearing a painted face mask .
The Russian influencer, Leia Se, aged 26, caused a stir in April with her boyfriend, a US based YouTuber, Josh Paler Lin, after they released a video on Instagram showing both shopping with her face painted like a mask
The couple had gone to shop on the Indonesian resort Island without a mask and were asked out by security guards. Lin resolved to paint his girlfriend’s face like a mask. Both reportedly went back to shop with the painted mask deceiving the security guards.
Lin who specializes in making prank videos had in a video which has been deleted from his Instagram handle, told Leia; “Did you notice like no one’s actually looking at you?’ I can’t believe it worked.
Reacting to the deportation, Bali Governor, Waynan Koster said; “This action was been taken to serve as a lesson that anyone who visits Indonesia must abide by its rules.
Bali immigration Chief Jamarulu Manihuruk said Lin was not deported in spite of the role he played in the violation of the Covid-19 rules.
“Based on our investigation, only Leia was considered guilty,’’ he said.
According to mask wearing rules in Bali, first-time violators face fines of 1 million rupiah ($90) for foreigners and deportation after a second offence, but this case turned different as the police says the duo did not only violate but were ‘deliberately provoking in public to defy health guidelines’.
Bali’s Civil Service Police unit Head, Dewa Nyoman Rai said;
“It’s only proper to sanction them more severely, not just with a fine but also deportation.
“They are not only violating, but deliberately provoking in public to defy health guidelines.”
Meanwhile, Lin and Se has apologized for violating Indonesia’s mask rules in a video posted on his Instagram account.
“The intention to make this video was not at all to disrespect or to invite everyone to not wear a mask’’.
“I make this video to entertain people because I am a content creator and it is my job to entertain people.
“However, I did not realize that what I did could actually bring a lot of negative comments” Lin said, advising people to always wear masks and inviting people to support tourism in Bali.
